Adjusting device for ophthalmic mountings



- March 29, 1938- s. E. BOUCHARD ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Filed Feb. 1, 1937 SAMUEL E BOUCHARD INVENTOR.

FIG.6

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 29, 1938 ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Samuel E. Bouchard, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Bausch & Lomb Optical Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1937, Serial No. 123,505

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to devices for spreading the straps of an ophthalmic mounting.

Ophthalmic lenses vary widely in edge thickness and, in assembling ophthalmic mountings of the rimless type, it is frequently necessary to change the separation between the straps to accommodate a particular lens. Heretofore this operation has usually been performed by straightening the straps and rebending them with a different separation. Such a procedure is at best a cut and try operation and frequently results in broken straps and mountings.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device for spreading the straps of an ophthalmic mounting which device is simple in construction yet efiicientin operation. Another object is to provide a device which will spread the straps of an ophthalmic mounting in a single operation. Another object is to provide a device which will spread the straps of an ophthalmic mounting to the proper width for a particular lens. These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying this invention showing a mounting in position to be adjusted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, two U-shaped arms are provided with flat portions l0 and H pivotally secured together by a pin l2 which passes through lugs I3 and I4 on the portions H and Ill, respectively. At their outer ends, the portions l0 and H are provided with recesses l5 and 16 in their respective rear surfaces for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Two walls I! and I8 extend rearwardly from each side of the portion l0 and a clamping jaw H) is pivotally secured between these walls IT and [8 by means of a pin 20. Another clamping jaw 2| is. pivotally secured by a pin 22 between two walls 23 and 24 extending rearwardly from the portion II. The jaws l9 and 2! have projecting faces 25 and 25, respectively, opposite the recesses 15 and IE to gripthe straps 21 and 28 of an ophthalmic mounting 29 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5.

The mechanism is actuated by means of two handles 3% and 3| pivotally connected together by a pin 32. Pins 33 and 34 are secured at the outer ends of the handles 3!! and 3!, respectively, and pass through the side walls I? and I8 and jaw l9 and side walls 23 and 2G and jaw 2i, respectively. The points where the pins 33 and 3 1 pass through the arms and jaws are between the pivot pin l2 and the pivot pins 28 and 22 so that thehandles 3i] and 3! move the jaws l9 and 2'? toward each other and the flat portions it and H away fromeach other. As. best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pins 33 and 34 are snugly received in holes 35 and 36 in the jaws l9 and 21, respectively, while the holes 37 and 33 in the walls I? and 23' and the identical holes, not shown, in walls I8 and 24, are much larger than the pins 33 and 34. The jaws l9 and 2! work directly with the handles 30 and Si while the oversize holes 3'! and 38 provide a st motion connection between the handles 30 and 3| and the U-shaped arms so that the handles 36 and 38 first close the jaws against the arms and then open the arms. A spring 39 is wrapped around the pivot pin 32 and urges the handles 3i and 3! away from each other.

In order to limit the extent of opening of the arms, the side walls I1 and I8 are provided with shanks 4B which extend into the handle 3i and carry a lug M with a projecting screw 42. The side walls 23 and 24 have shanks 43 extending I into the handle 33 and a nut 44 on the screw 42 engages the shanks 43 to stop them in predetermined position. This position determines the extent of opening of the arms.

When using the present device in the adjustment of an ophthalmic mounting, the edge of the necessary lens is placed in a groove determined by two notches 45 and 43 formed in the adjacent free ends of the side walls I! and 23 and by identical notches, not shown, in the side walls i8 and 24. The groove formed by these notches has a width equal to the thickness of the two flat portions Ill and II at the recesses and IS. The nut 44 is then screwed into contact with the shanks 33. The lens is then removed from the groove, the handles and 3| are released and a mounting 29 is located on the device with strap 2'! on one side of the flat portions Hi and H and with strap 28 on the other side thereof as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. All that is necessary now is to squeeze the handles 33 and 3| together as far as they will go and the straps 2! and 28 are spread to the exact width required for the particular lens.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide a new and improved device for adjusting ophthalmic mountings which is simple in construction yet efiicient in operation. While I have referred only to the spreading of the straps of such mountings, it is obvious that the present device can be as well used to reduce the separation between the straps. Various modifications can, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of arms each having one fiat face, means for pivotally connecting said arms so that the flat faces are in opposed relation, two jaws pivotally connected one to each arm on the side away from the flat face, actuating handles, means interconnecting said actuating handles and said jaws, whereby said jaws are moved into contact with said arms and means interconnecting said handles and said arms after said jaws are closed whereby said arms are moved out of contact with each other.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of arms each having one flat face, means for pivotally connecting said arms so that the flat faces are in opposed relation, two jaws pivotally connected one to each arm on the side away from the flat face, actuating handles, and means interconnecting said actuating handles, said jaws and said arms, whereby said jaws are moved into contact with said arms and said arms are moved out of contact with each other, said last-named means including a lost motion connection whereby said jaws close against said arms before said arms open.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of arms, each having one fiat face, means for pivotally connecting said arms so that the flat faces are in opposed relation, two jaws pivotally connected one to each arm on the side away from said flat face, the pivots of said jaws being spaced from the pivot of said arms, two handles pivotally connected together, two pins, one on each handle, said pins being rotatably journalled one in each jaw between the pivot of said arms and the pivot between the jaw and the arm, and lost motion connections between said pins and said arms. I

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of arms, each having one fiat face, means for pivotally connecting said arms so that the flat faces are in opposed relation, two jaws. pivotally connected one to each arm on the side away from said flat face, the pivots of said jaws being spaced from the pivot of said arms, two handles pivotally connected together, two pins, one on each handle, said pins being rotatably journalled one in each jaw between the pivot of said arms and the pivot between the jaw and the arm, lost motion connections between said pins and said arms, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said arms.

5. In a device of the character described, a

pair of arms, each having a flat front face, means for pivotally connecting said arms so that the flat faces are in opposed relation, a pair of rearwardly extending walls on each arm, two jaws pivotally connected one between each pair of walls, the pivots for said jaws being spaced from the pivot for said arms, two handles pivotally connected together, two pins one on each handle, said pins being rotatably journalled one in each jaw between the pivot of said arms and the pivot between the jaw and the arm, and oversized holes in said walls through which said pins pass.

SAMUEL E. BOUCHARD. 

